To improve rural connectivity, greater collaboration is needed between rural development networks and the European Broadband Competence Offices (BCO) Network. A priority of the BCO Network is supporting rural broadband deployment, but too often, BCOs and rural broadband project promoters are unaware of one another. Choices made in the early phase of a project, however, have important consequences, such as technology choice on funding eligibility. Such advice is a core function of BCOs. BCO and project promoter partnerships are therefore key to building more successful rural broadband networks.

The European Commission launched the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) Telecom 2019–1 call, making €19.2 million available to stimulate and sustain the deployment of European Digital Service Infrastructures (DSIs) in the areas of Automated Translation, eIdentification and eSignature, eDelivery, eInvoicing, Europeana and the EU Student eCard. This call is the first under the current CEF Telecom Work Programme. In 2019, CEF Telecom aims to provide up to €88 million in total funding for 18 DSIs.

The Support Facility for the European Broadband Competence Offices (BCOs) Network offers support and training for BCOs through an annual programme of knowledge exchange and capacity-building. The Annual Work Plan Summary gives an outline of the objectives and activities planned for 2019. The programme will include events, publications and video interviews dedicated to increasing the capacity of European BCOs to bring broadband connectivity to all citizens, with an emphasis on bridging the digital gap between urban and rural areas and reaching the Gigabit Society objectives.

In the framework of the CEF Telecom program, the EU invests more than EUR 1 billion to overcome barriers in the European digital landscape and to improve the daily lives of citizens, businesses and supporting the vision of cross-border public services.

As of 29 September, the EU-wide legislation on the electronic identification (eIDAS Regulation) will enter into force enabling cross-border recognition of the electronic ID and allowing citizens and business to share their identity data when necessary. People will be able to use their electronic ID (eID) such as ID cards, driver licenses, bank cards and fill tax returns online, access medical records and online public services across the EU.

Below you will find an indicative roadmap up to the beginning of 2019 and a short description of the major next steps of the WiFi4EU initiative, such as Portal opening, call launch, announcement of results, distribution of vouchers, and planning of next calls.

The EU will invest over 25.5 million to further improve European Digital Services. The evaluation of the third 2017 CEF Telecom call for proposals has concluded. 30 Projects in the areas of eInvoicing, eTranslation, Europeana and Public Open Data from 26 EU Member States have been selected to receive co-funding.

The results of last year's call under the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) have been published. €7.9 million will be granted to 12 proposals with applicants from 15 EU Member States, to create, maintain or expand national capacities of national and/or governmental (n/g) Computer Emergency Response Teams (CERTs)/Computer Security Incident Response Teams (CSIRTs) to run a range of cyber security services.

CEF Telecom funding is dedicated to Digital Service Infrastructures (DSIs) delivering networked cross-border services for citizens, businesses and public administrations. More than EUR 7 million will be allocated to eHealth projects.

The mid-term evaluation of the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) was published today. It assesses CEF’s overall performance in light of its general and sectoral objectives three and a half years into its implementation. According to this evaluation, CEF-supported interventions have so far contributed to the Commission’s priorities with regard to jobs, growth and investment, the internal market, Energy Union and climate, and the Digital Single Market, and have thus strengthened the EU's competitiveness